Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum Looking for Great Piano Teacher in Los Angeles

Hello,

I'm 35 year old male, looking for a great piano teacher in Los Angeles. I live in West Hollywood/Miracle Mile around Park La Brea & The Grove area.

I used to take lessons at the Silverlake Conservatory and that is still an option, however I'd like to see what else is out there.

I don't have much experience as far as classical training goes (I play in a rock band), I just want to get back into it and learn. Preferably I don't want the approach to be too rigid/uptight like the strict classical guys. But with that said I'm open so long as the teacher is great at what he/she does

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Johnbarnesiii, before looking for the great teacher, take stock of what kinds of things you think you will need to learn, and how it is probably learned. Get some understanding of what is involved, before doing your research. That way you can talk more intelligently to prospective teachers (which helps them understand what you want), and it also helps you get a sense of what they are saying.

"great" doesn't give you much and it can lead you astray. For example, there are adult students who have never played any instrument who look for very good teachers, and so they look for people who are good performers and maybe teach in a conservatory. But those teachers might know how to give trained students insights into music, but not know how to give them the basic skills. (We see this from time to time.) Or a teacher is "great" because he's fun but doesn't teach you what you need. Or is actually great for the right reasons.

Try http://www.mtac.org/info/findteacher.php
Type in your zip code, then select the radius of 5 miles to 150 miles from your zip code.
Make sure select the instrument too.
Then you will see a list of music teacher's name and their phone number and email address.

Thanks @ezpiano, I'll check it out.

@Keystring, yes I'll try and define what it is I seek in lessons a little more clearly, thx for the tip.

Neil Stannard is in your area--don't know him, but he has a great piano blog: http://www.pianoteacherlosangeles.com/

He used to post on the forum too--haven't seen him here in a while.

You might like a teacher I know in Culver City. She comes from a pop/rock background and let's adult students help shape their own direction. i.e. you can choose your ratio of classical to pop studies. Reasonable rates and compassionate policies as well.

PM me if you want her name

Kurt

Thanks guys for the suggestions, I've reached out to a few people around LA and trying to figure out which route to take. Some are more traditional/classical teachers, whereas others run more of a gamut and less about proper technique as they are with integrating theory & other methods.

Will keep you posted and as always, open to further suggestions.